~ An archive of nutmeg's stumbles

Monthly Archives: February 2008

I was woken up a few minutes ago by what I can only assume was an earth tremor – the whole house was being shaken.

This is nothing compared to what some of you experience in other parts of the world, but it’s way out of the ordinary for me!

I’ve just put the news on and apparently it measured 4.7 on the Richter Scale and the epicentre was in Lincolnshire, about 15 mile NE of Lincoln… just a few miles from where I live – so no wonder I felt it!

Update: The scale has been upped to 5.2, which is the biggest one in Britain since one of 5.4 in North Wales in 1984.

Folia is a new site for gardeners designed to let you ‘organise, track and share your gardening adventures’. It’s also a good community – with forums and groups for gardening-related topics and a gardening buddy system, which allows you to follow the progress of gardens you take an interest in.

I’ve been using Folia as a beta tester since October and I like it a lot. I’ve gradually been cataloguing the different areas of my garden… if you want to see some of what can be done, then feel free to check out nutmeg’s Folia page (not all features are visible to non-members). It’s a work in progress – just like my garden!

The site is now in public beta, so can still be a bit glitchy occasionally – but new features are being added all the time and staff are excellent at providing feedback.

Join us as we explore some of the most awe inspiring events on Planet Earth – great animal migrations. Join our legion of reporters, scientists and amateur naturalists as we follow the trials and tribulations of a World On the Move.

This is an unprecedented attempt to track these epic journeys of the natural world and we are asking you to contribute to the project whenever it happens, wherever it happens

“The Asian harlequin ladybird has become the dominant species in the south east of England in less than four years, scientists have said.

A nationwide survey shows that the insect, which originated in Japan, has gone from a handful of sightings in 2004 to virtually total coverage of the South East and is now found as far afield as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales…

…The harlequin, which was introduced into Europe as a form of biological control aimed at aphids, already rivals other model examples of invasive species without native enemies such as the grey squirrel.”

Why is this considered a problem? With its voracious appetite and longer breeding period there are fears it could threaten the survival of the 46 domestic ladybird species.

I live in Lincolnshire and saw my first harlequins in June 2007. Initially they were few and far between, but by the autumn their numbers had increased dramatically and I saw hundreds and hundreds of the things. I’m keeping a watchful eye on the ladybirds in my garden – to monitor any impact made by the invaders.

NB: The harlequin is described in the article as a garden ‘pest’ – not sure why, since it’s extremely good at eating aphids and other pests.